Joint structures in billfolds or other articles of flexible sheet material



Jan. 15, 1957 Filed May 20, 1953 J. HARWOOD JOINT STRUCTURES IN BILLFOLDS OR OTHER ARTICLES OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. HARWOOD JOINT STRUCTURES IN BILLFOLDS OR OTHER Jan. 15, 1957 Fild May 20, 1955 ARTICLES OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOQ .12 W

a ATTOENETs the panel 20 being indicated at 23 (Figure 2) and for the panel 19 is visible at 24 (Figure 7).

These folded-over margins 23 and 24 may as indicated in Figure 7 be cut or slit longitudinally to provide at each end of the compartment a suspension strap 25 or alternatively as seen in Figure 10, these folded-over margins may have secured thereto a structurally separate suspension strap 26 which may be threaded through longitudinally spaced slits in the folded-over margin 24 situated inwardly of the lateral extremities thereof, one of these slits being indicated at 27 (Figure 10).

Internally of the compartment 10 is provided a partition member 28 which may be a depth intermediate between the depth of the back and front members 11 and 12 and which may comprise an elongated rectangular-shaped piece of sheet material of the kind specified having openings preferably in the form of slits as indicated at 28a, Figures 7 and 10, inset a short distance from its lateral extremities through which the suspension straps 25 or 26 are passed.

The front member of the compartment may incorporate an additional separate sheet 29 which in combination with the two panels 19 and 20 forms main front pockets as indicated by the space 52 (Figure 2) in the case of the panel 20 access to these main front pockets being obtainable at respective opposite edges 53 and 54 of the central cut-out between the panels 19 and 20.

This sheet 29 is held in position partly by reason of the fact that it lies beneath the folded-over margins 23 and 24 of the panels 19 and 20 and partly by the provision of slits or openings inset for a short distance from its lateral extremities as indicated at 30 Figures 8 and 9 to enable the suspension straps to pass through it and perform a like function to that in which they perform for the partition member 28.

The outer or free ends of the suspension straps may have a peripheral configuration defining a head portion 31 and these headed portions may be secured adhesively to the exterior face of the appropriate panel 19 or 20 as seen particularly in Figures 4, 7, and 8 by passage of the suspension straps through slits 32 in the panels, the length of these slits being less than the corresponding dimensions of the head portion measured in the vertical direction so that the strap is retainednot only by the adhesive but positively by abutment of the-head against the material of the panels above and below the ends of slits 32. p

In the alternative arrangement illustrated in Figure 8, the end of suspension strap designated 25 for convenience but which may be of the form indicated in Figure 8 is separated into component plies 55 and 56 the one 55 of which is passed through the opening or slit 32 in the panel member 19 to lie against its front faceand the other 56 of which is secured to the rear face of this panel member.

in yet another alternative as shown in Figure 9 both the plies 55 and 56 may be passed through the opening or slit 32 and splayed apart to extend in opposite diby these straps and in the region where the straps themselves are secured.

With the composite front member 12 folded about the lower fold-line 18 face to face with the back member 11 to define the compartment 10 which is sub-divided by the partition member 28, the flaps 14 and 15 are then folded over the exposed faces of panels 19 and 20 respectively, and secured in position in conjunction with other components to form sub-pockets as hereinafter described.

For retaining the partition member 28 in position in the compartment 10 at its central region the bill-fold incorporates a joint structure involving the lower edge portion of the partition member and the tab 22.

The primary step in effecting this joint structure is to form one of the pieces, in this case the partition member 28, at its lower edge portion of at least a pair of plies 33 and 34 which could be separate sheets of material adhesively or otherwise secured together at locations other than that at which the joint is to be effected but which are preferably each united integrally with the main body portion of the piece of partition member 28 which except for the plies is of homogeneous unlaminated form. In such a homogeneous or laminated sheet of material whether of leather or the other sheet materials of the kind specified the plies may be formed by a skivering or pairing of the material for the required distance inwardly from the edge thereof in this case the bottom edge 35, the terms skivering or pairing being understood in the art as meaning a' cutting or splitting of the sheet in a plane parallel to and intermediate the faces of the sheet so as to produce the separate plies.

The other piece of material, in this case the tab 22, is inserted between the plies 33 and 34which are temporarily separated or left unbonded to each other in the area in which the inserted portion is to be accommodated and then afterwards united together and to one or both faces 7 of the inserted portion by a suitable adhesive.

The inserted portion or tab 22 may enter between the plies 33 and 34 where these are formed by skivering or pairing or where these are inherently present by the use of a laminated sheet at the edge in this case the edge 35.

Preferably, however, as illustrated one of the plies 34 may have an opening such as a slit 36 inset from the edge adjacent to which the piece or tab 22 is to lie and this piece or tab may enter between the plies through this opening or slit 36.

A further feature of the joint structure which may advantageously be incorporated whether the inserted portion enters through a slit or opening or at the edge of the plies is that the inserted portion or tab 22 may have a v peripheral profile of a form to present a relatively narrow rections, these plies being adhesively secured to the front face of the panel member 19 on opposite sides of the opening or slit 32. j

A particular advantage of this arrangement for securing the paflition and loose lining member in position is that since the suspension straps may be formed as shown in Figure 10 by an integral part of the foldedover margins of the panel members, their provision does not involve an extra thickness of material. Moreover, the manner of securing of these straps by passing them through slits in the panels and adhesively securing the heads avoids any doubling of the thickness of the suscnsion straps throughout their lengths and secondly both these factors are contributory to avoiding any undesirable protuberances or multiplicity of thicknesses locally in the region where the partition memberis supported connecting neck 37 uniting a head 38 to the main body of the member associated with the tab in this case the front member 12. The head may have abutments or shoulders 39. ,These shoulders 39 engage with an edge of the slit or opening in the regions at the ends thereof as seen in Figure 3 so as to resist in combination with the adhesive any withdrawal of the inserted piece or tab.

It will be apparent that the manner in which the partition member is secured at its bottom edge permits bills, notes or other papers to be inserted into the sub divisions 40 and 41 of the compartment 10 to the whole depth thereof without any obstruction being afforded to such insertion and without any part of the bottoms of these sub-divisions being effectively lost for bill or note accommodation purposes by virtue of the retaining means for the partition member.

The sub-pockets formed on the exposed faces of the panels 19 and 20 of the front member of the bill-fold each incorporate a further joint structure.

At the left-hand end of the bill-fold as viewed in Figure 1, the sub-pocket is formed partly by the panel 19 itself' which. constitutesa base member oribacking for the pocket. and: the pouchlportion for thezpock'et is formed of a strip of. flexible sheet material of the kind specified asindicated at'42' (Figures 4" and: 5)

The peripheral margins; of thisastri'p 42 in the particular case in question extending along the upper and lower edge thereof are formed of separated plies 431 which are splayed' apartas seen particularly in: Figure-5 so that they extend in. opposite directions from each other; Y

Each of the peripheral margins incorporating these splayed plies are passed through openings preferably in. the form of slits 44' in the panel, ther e being-twosuch openings arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart. at the requisite distance, suchopenings lying ad jacent to the upper and lower edges of the panel respectively.

The plies 43 are secured in contiguous relationship with the inner face ofthe panel 19 by a suitable adhesive and it will thus be observed that the upper and lower boundaries of the pocket are thus completely sealed so that there is no: possibility of the contents of the pocket passing therefrom into the interior of the compartment 1'0.

It would be possible to form the strip 42 on separate sheets of material of which the marginal portions are splayed apart whilst in the main bodyportion they are adhesively secured together but-preferably: each of the plies 43 is integrally connectedwith the main body portion whichgisof homogeneous or unlaminat'ed form; In; this case, the plies. may be formed by a shivering or pairing operation as previouslydescribed.

The bottom of the pocket formed by the outer lateralf extremity 45 of the piece 42 is closed by the flap- 14 to the extremity of which is preferably secured by adhesive a relatively stiff card or sheet 46 'of paper or the like material; which is inserted into the open mouth '47 of the sub-pocket and secured adhesively to the interior face of the strip 42'. In: a preferredarrangement the end of the flap 14 is formed with a tab having aheaded profile as indicated in chain dotted, lines Sfafiording a pair of laterally directed ears 58 and connected to the main body of the flap 14 through a narrowen'neck portion 59,. The card 46 has a slit of a width intermediate that of the neck portion 59 and that between the extremities of the ears 58 (and coincident withv junction line; 6 0 so that when the tab is through this. slit and adhesively secured against the underside of the card and the whole is adhesively secured to the interinr face of the piece; 42 the flap, is positivelyretained in position by the abutment of. the ears'58' against the innerfaee oh the card to augment thesecuringetfected by adhesive.

At the right -h'and endbfthe bill-fold the panel 20 is provided with a somewhat more capacious pocket of gusseted construction, the formation of which can best be seen in Figures 1. and 6. In this construction the front and side members of the sub-pocket may be formed of a piece of flexible sheet material of the kind specified in the shape of a trapezium the marginal portions of this piece adjacent to the non-parallel sides being pleated inwardly to form inwardly directed V-shaped gussets 48, the main body of this piece which connects.

these marginal portions not being visible in Figure 1 by virtue of its extending beneath the flap 15.

The edges of the gussets 48 which are adjacent to the panel 20 may be formed into separated plies in the manner illustrated for the sub-pocket at the other end of the bill-fold and may be passed through openings or slits adjacent to the upper and lower edges of the panel 20, as indicated at 49, these plies then being splayed apart and secured adhesively to the interior face of this panel' in a manner analogous to that illustrated in Figure 5.

The flap 15 forms a closure member for the bottom of this sub-pocket the mouth of which may be provided with a flap 50 secured to the panel 20 by a joint structure similar to that used for the gussets 48 and the strip 42 without the necessity for any stitching operations and thewhole article. may. thus be manufactured at relatively low cost without involving the degree of skill normally attendant upon the. carrying out of stitching or sewing operations.

Further, the partition member 28 by virtue of the suspension straps. has a limited degree of endwise float enabling it to accommodateitself to the. contents ofi the.

compartment 10 when the bill-fold is' in its closed'or folded position whilstfthe. central" anchorage provided by the tab 22 efiectively prevents any tendency to pull thepartition'.memberoutand distort it when withdraw ing bills, notes or other papers from the sub-divisions 40- and 41-.

What I claim then: is:

1. In a bill fold formed of flexible sheet material ofi theigeneral; class specified, the provision of a bill receiv-- ing compartment'formed of back andv front members connectedstogether integrally with eachother along a fold: lineforming the. bottom of the compartment, one of said members being cut; transversely to the fold line and: adjacent thereto to provide an. upwardly extending tab-halving its lower extremity situated: close to but above said. fold line so that the' latter presents. a continuousfolded edge freefrom cuts or discontinuities, and a partition member in said compartment connected at its lower edge witlrsaid tab. l i

2. In a bill fold formedtof iflexible sheet material oi the general class specified, having'a bill receiving comcompartment, said tab being anchored at its lower'end: by connection to said? back and. front members at said longitudinal edge, said tab having a. peripheral profile, ofi a fiorm presenting, a head and a relatively narrow; connectingneck, said partition member. having a lower edge portion comprising apair of plies, and said tab head;

being disposed between said; plies .an d secured in posi tioii by adhesive applied between contiguous faces of the plies beneath and within the lateral confines of said head.

3. In a bill fold formed of flexible sheet material of the general class specified, having a bill receiving compartment formed of back and front members connected together along one adjacent longitudinal edge to form the bottom of the compartment; the provision of a partition member in said compartment, an upwardly extending tab situated in said compartment in a' region lying centrally between the lateral extremities of said compartment, said tab being anchored at its lower end by connection to said back and front members at said longitudinal edge, said partition member having a lower edge portion comprising a pair of plies one of which has a slit inset from the lower edge of the plie, said tab having a peripheral profile of a form presenting a head and a relatively narrow neck, said head being disposed between said plies with said neck emerging from said.

7 partment formed of back and front members connected together integrally with each other along a fold line forming the bottom of the compartment; the provision of a partition member in said compartment, an upwardly extending tab situated in said compartment in a region lying centrally between the lateral extremities of said compartment, said tab being anchored at its lower end byintegral connection with said front member at a position close totbut above said fold line so that the latter presents a continuous folded edge free from cut-outs or discontinuities, said partition member having a lower edge portion comprising two plies each united integrally with the remainder of said partition member which is of homogeneous unlaminated form, said tab being disposed between said plies and secured in position by adhesive applied between contiguous faces of said tab and said plies to retain the partition member centrally of'its length against upward displacement.

5. In a bill fold of flexible sheet material of the general class specified, having a bill receiving compartment formed of back and front members connected together along one adjacent longitudinal to form the bottom of the compartment; the provision of a partition member in said compartment, an upwardly extending tab in said compartment connected at its lower end with said longitudinal edge and with said partition member to retain the latter centrally of its length against upward displacement, suspension straps disposed near opposite lateral extremities of said partition member and having their lengths extending at least approximately parallel to the bottom of the compartment, opposite ends of each suspension strap being connected to said front member, and a portion of each suspension strap intermediate its ends passing through a slit in the adjacent lateral margin of said partition memher.

6. In a bill fold formed of flexible sheet material of the general class specified, the provision of a bill receiving compartment formed of back and front members connected together integrally with each other along a fold line forming the bottom of the compartment, said front member comprising panels on opposite sides of the centre of said fold line, adjacent inner edges of these panels being spaced apart from each other and the upper margins of said panels being folded over into the interior of said compartment, said front member further comprising a separate sheet extending for the length of said compartment and inserted behind said panels so as to be enclosed along its upper margin between said panels and said folded over upper margins, the latter being slit parallel to their upper edges and adjacent to their lateral extremities to provide suspension straps at each of the lateral extremities of said compartment, said suspension straps being secured at their outer ends to said inserted piece, a partition member in said compartment having a lower edge portion comprising a pair of plies, an upwardly extending tab in said compartment, said tab being integrally connected at its lower end with said front member of thecompartment at a position between the spaced inner edges of said panels, said tab being disposed between the plies of said partition member and secured in position by adhesive applied between contiguous faces of the tab and the plies to retain the partition member centrally of its length against upward displacement, said partition member adjacent its lateral extremities having slits through which suspension straps are passed to secure it against upward displacement at these positions.

7. In a bill-fold formed of flexible sheet material of the general class specified, having a billreceiving compartment formed of back and front members connected together along one adjacent longitudinal edge to form the bottom of the compartment; the provision of a partition member in said compartment, an upwardly extending tab in said compartment connected at its lower end with said longitudinal edge and united with the partition member.

8. In a bill-fold of flexible sheet material of the general class specified, having a bill-receiving compartment formed of back and front members connected together along one adjacent longitudinal edge to form the bottom of the compartment; the provision of a partition member in said compartment, an upwardly extending tab situated in said compartment in a region lying centrally between the lateral extremities of said compartment, said tab being anchored at its lower end by connection to said back and front members at said longitudinal edge, said partition member having a lower edge portion comprising a pair of plies, and said tab being disposed between said plies and secured in position by adhesive applied between contiguous faces of the tab and the plies to retain said partition member centrally of its length against upward displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,367 Brockway Mar. 9, 1886 1,297,994 Boyer Mar. 25, 1919 1,299,824 Cullen Apr. 8, 1919 1,483,279 Cheney Feb. 12, 1924 1,842,870 Harwood Ian. 26, 1932 2,366,875 Renz Jan.. 9, 1945 2,434,121 Pence Ian. 6, 1948 2,473,056 Henderson June 14, 1949 2,642,912 Berger June 23, 1953 

